Monday, June 27, 2011

I'm not posting this to make fun of someone's misfortune only to point out the amazingly insensitive choice of words for the very last word of the very last paragraph.

Palatka, FL — Roy McSweeney, a 74-year-old Florida man, was left in critical condition after his neighbor’s two dogs jumped the fence separating his property from hers and brutally attacked him in his own front yard.

“He was in his yard doing yard work when the dogs jumped over the fence and attacked him,” Putnam County Sheriff’s Capt. Johnny Greenwood said, adding that the fence was thin wire.

McSweeney had his right arm completely torn off by the dogs and his left arm shredded. The dogs also reportedly mauled his face. It was reported that McSweeney was rushed to a nearby hospital where he underwent hours of surgery trying to save his left arm. He is currently on life support and friends and family are questioning if he can survive.

The animals, owned by neighbor Deanna Blitch, have been euthanized and their dead carcasses are being tested for rabies. Police described the dogs as being – brace yourselves – pit bulls or pit bull mixes.No charges have been filed against the dogs’ owner.

I completely expect a chorus calling for the indictment of the dogs’ owners. Please also consider how different this would be if the victim wasn’t unarmed.